Signaling system



April 13, 1954 o. H. DAvlDsMl-:YER Erm. 2,675,535

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 30. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l Raus: .soLcf/o/oMAS TE STA. 23

www j@ A STA. 4

lnlh WIBILQIEEFHTHTIFW f L o, H DV/DSMEYER IGZ F/G3 F/G4 F/G5/NVENTORSA-R.

April 13, l954 o. H. DAvlDsMEYl-:R ET Al. 2,675,535

SIGNALING SYSTEM I Filed July 30. 1952 e sheets-sheet 2 RELEASE SOLENOIDF/G. 3 STAT/0N o. H oAv/osMfyE/e VEN "SA. R. EGGENSPERGER ATTORNEY April13, 1954 o. H. DAvlDsME-YER ET AL 2,675,535

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 50, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 RELEA s: soLEA/o/oF/G. 4f STA TIO/V 2 (ALL CAL GRELW o. f2 0A was/MEYER WVM/mp5' R.fcef/vsPgRGE/P n l A l l n luv ATTORNEY April 13 1954 o. H.DAvlDsMEYl-:R ETAL 2,675,535

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 50, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 RELEASE F/G.5STAT/0N a TIME DELAY RED RELAY r 0. H 0,4 V/DSMEYER l N VE N T ORS/1. R.EGGENSPERGER ATTORNEY April 13, 1954 o. H. DAvlDsMEYER ETAL 2,675,535

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill l 8l .ill l fo. H DAV/DSMEYER /NVENTZRSA ,9,'EGGENSPERGER Vf'. la'. ATTORNEY April13, 1954 o. H. DA-vlDsMEYER ETA. 2,675,535

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 50, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 o. H oAv/osMfyE/PNm/MRSA. R. :Gams/25H65@ ATTORNEK Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED ST 'I ENTi Of-FF ICE'l SIGNALING SYSTEM Illinois Application July 30, 1952,Serial No. 301,666v

11 Claims.

This invention relates to signaling systems and particularly toselecting means for remote control of electrically operated apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide an economical, rugged,reliable andv simple remote control selecting means which may beemployed for a variety of purposes and bring. the advantages of certainconventional but highly developed and costly selector systems into moregeneral use.

Reference is hereby made tov application Serial Number 301,711, filedJuly 30, 1952, in the name of Stanley O. Schlaf andapplication SerialNumber 301.748 filed July` 30, 1952, in the name of Bernard Cahill, forthe disclosure of various, separate and distinct inventionsmadein thedevelopment of a selectingsystem embodied in identical disclosures inthe present application and the said other two applications.

The invention, in essence, residesvinA the use of start stopdistributors, common in the printing telegraph art, activated bysynchronous motors similar to those employed, in therubiquitous clockwhich depends on the present day. precise regulation of the frequency ofthe commercial electric power supply in substantially all communities.Through the use of 'suchmotors as selecting systern need not be connedto any one location Where the same power supply is available to driveall the start stop distributor motors but may embrace an extensive areaincluding a number of different power sources andbe operated over a linelong enough to be classed as a ytoll or long distance line. Theselectingsystem may be used for, telecommunication.. purposes, as forselectively enabling any one or more of, or combination of, stationseach provided with telecommunication apparatus so thatthese selectedsta.- tions may be enabled. The selectingsystem may be used forreleasing anyv previouslyA enabled sta-` tion or combination of stationsand. for setting up a new combination. In such ause amaster station anda plurality ofl outlying stations may be joined in a conventional ringcircuit over which the selection may be made and the telegraph messagemay thereafter be transmitted.

It will be understoodhowever, that the present invention is notexclusively. usedy for telecom-V munication purposes but may be employedfor a Wide variety of purposes where a.- selection and operation of oneor more ,of a pluralityy of stations for any purposev is desired. Theinvention may be usedfor such simple purposes as the selective operationof callsigrlais such as lamps, buzaers or bells or for the morecomplicated purposes of remote control'of machinery.

A feature of the invention is the use of small synchronous motors fordrivingl the start stop distributors, operated from local commercial a1-ternatingY current mains, the said commercial supplies atdiierentlocations having one common characteristic, namely-apreciselyregulated frequency, substantially ofthe same valuegatvalllocations. It will be found in practice thatI often the alternatingcurrent Supply usedfor thelvarious stations is one and the same, inother `cases that a common source of preciselyl regulatedv frequency isemployed by `different. electricity supply companies for a referencestandard and in still other cases that commercial demands lead' to greataccuracy in the maintenance ofW the frequency characteristics ofthesupply so that the commercial supply at all' points `Where stationsfor a system of the present invention may be installed are completelyadequate to cause the various distributors of the system tooperatesynchronously; In accordance, Withv thisfeature, it is to beparticularly pointedout thathighly ac.- curate regulation of thefrequency While desirable is not necessary, for the tolerances intheoperation of the distributors are Wide and: since. any singleoperation is of only afew secondsduration, synchronisrnA in theoperation of, aplurality of these motors is sufficiently accurateevenifthe regulation of the frequency of the sources, is entirely inadequatefor the purpose. ofl driving the household clocks. Substantially uniformfrequency for operating themotors ofthesystemis sunicient.

A feature of the inventionis aftinie1 measuring means started andmaintainedy inoperationby a manually operable means for enablingthesig.- naling means, Whichrmay. therefore be effectively started onlyif, the said manually operable means is held operated over a minimumpredetermined period of time. Since the system` of-thepresent inventionis constructed: and arranged to operate over a circuit employed for`other conventional signaling means, this time delay isintroducedas ameans for differentiating from the-same: type but generally shorterdurationsignals employed by such conventional means. By Wayl ofexamplathe systemof the present invention may be operated over aconventional. printing telegraph ring circuit having a plurality ofprinting telegraph stationsserially connectedand must be renderedunresponsive tothe printing telegraph signals.

In accordance with this featureieach synchronousA start stop distributorstationV isL provided with a, constantly operatingv synchronous;motor-,- the sources of alternating current at the various stations notbeing necessarily the same nor in phase with each other butsubstantially of the same frequency so that the various motors willoperate at substantially the same speed. Advantage is taken of the factthat practically all localities now have a standard 60 cycle commercialsupply, which may be used for timing purposes in the operation of thepresent invention and thus eliminate other intricate and costly timingapparatus.

Another feature of the invention is a means constituting a slowoperating relay. This consists essentially of a pair of contacts to beclosed after a predetermined period of time and which are driven by aconstant speed motor. A coil for clutching these contacts to theconstantly operating motor is provided so that upon energication thereofthe contacts are started in operation and through the movement of themotor are caused to come into contact to close any given circuit afterthe lapse or" a given period, by way of example, three hundredmilliseconds. By the use of such a relay the unlatching of thedistributor may be delayed for a period of time greater than anyconventional signal which may be transmitted over the common circuit.

Another feature of the invention is a relay having a coil and aconstantly rotating core, an armature suspended above said core adaptedupon the energization of said coil to be brought into frictionalengagement with said core for rotation and carrying a contact piecebrought by the rotation of said armature into cooperative relationshipwith a stationary contact, said armature being suspended on a springwhich on deenereization of said coil will return said armature and itscontact piece to their normal positions.

Another feature of the invention is a noncumulative slow operatingrelay, in other words one which will require a definite andpredetermined period of time in which to effect an electrical contactbut which cannot succeed in closing such a contact on a repeatedsuccession of energizations each of less than the said predeterminedperiod. This relay is constructed and arranged to release to its normalposition at high speed so that in eiTect it responds to a train ofimpulses by starting its contact closing movement on each impulse fromits starting position and will not build up to an operated position onanything less than an impulse equal to or greater than the saidpredetermined duration.

Still another feature of the invention is a relay in which the contactsmove slowly and at a uniform rate to an operated position upon theenergization of the coil thereof but which release and move back totheir normal position at a high rate of speed.

Another feature of the present invention is the use of a plurality ofstart stop distributors in a series circuit so that the circuit is,during the simultaneous operation of the said plurality of distributors,periodically closed again into a single series circuit as all thedistributors simultaneously pass over corresponding segments. With theexception of the master station, from which the selection is controlled,some sort of circuit is completed through each station for every segmentof its distributor. In general a relay coil of a function relay isincluded in the circuit of a different one of the function segments ateach station and the remainder of the function segments lead in commonthrough the coil of a relay incidentally used for signaling theinformation that some other station has been selected and enabled. Wheresuch signalled information is not needed this common coil mustnevertheless be used but will perform no other function than to providea closed path through the station so that the function relay at someother station may be operated. In accordance with this feature the ringcircuit includes a single conductor in series relationship with aplurality of start stop distributor means whereby during thesimultaneous rotation of said distributors a plurality of derivedcircuits are sequentially established. Since a function relay may beincluded in each derived circuit, one at each of said differentstations, any one or more of said stations may be selected byeffectively closing the corresponding derived circuit or circuits at amaster station.

In accordance with this feature accuracy in operation may be gained atthe expense of time and thus provide a selecting system somewhat slowerin operation than other highly developed conventional systems butnevertheless of rugged and dependable operation so that an economicaldevice is provided for a field requiring a selecting device but whichcould not economically justify conventional apparatus. By the use oicomparatively slow operating synchronous motors powered by thewidespread and precisely regulated commercial electric supply sources, aplurality of start stop distributors may be dependably placed in seriesand may dependably sequentially close a plurality of circuits so that ifone of such circuits is marked for operation it may be used effectivelyfor a selecting operation. It must nevertheless be understood that theprinciple of the invention is applicable to high speed systems as wellas to the comparatively slow speed system herein disclosed by way ofexample. It will be understood that the economy of the system, however,has a degree cf control over the speed employed, and while the principleof a plurality of start stop distributors in series may be prefectlyfeasible for a high speed system, the cost of the more precise controlnecessary for such speedy operation probably could not be justified forthe iield of use of the present means.

Another feature of the invention is an arrangement for automaticallyrestoring all stations to normal as a rst step in a selecting operation.The system of the present invention is known as a push button selectorsystem and is characterized by the use of a conventional type of pushbutton arrangement whereby the setting of a given button correspondingto a wanted station or combination of stations automatically andmechanically releases any other button theretofore operated. In additioneach station is provided with a releasing or cut off relay for restoringthe station circuit to normal and all these releasing relays areincluded in the first derived circuit so that when the distributors havebeen started on a round the first operation is a releasing operationthus restoring all stations to normal and putting them in propercondition for the immediately following selecting operation, that is theoperation of the function relay at the selected station or stations andthe operation of a guard relay at all other stations.

A feature of the invention may therefore be stated as a selector systemcontrol means which performs a double function on each selectingoperation, (1) that of releasing any one or more of the selectorspreviously enabled and (2) that of.

enablingfanm onefor. moreseleetors.--foriza-present operation. Whenthe:V operatorA at a' master staftion makes a: selection he does-isovby: actuatingv any given oneformorerofthe push-buttonsfpro.- vided and'then operates-hisstart'kexn` As-thedis'- tributors rotate; one ofthe'frst derived.lv circuits closed lisa-.clearout. or release-circuit`rwhichl acts to releaseanyy selector previouslylocked infcircuit,

Another` featurefof the-invention is what hasbeen termed an errorcircuit,r that is a safety meansefor preventingl erroneous f operationof. the devices of;y the present invention; Thefcircuitin questionconsistsessentially of ameans by which an' operation' startedf by a.manual operation; is completed automaticallyy and without interferenceby any succeeding: manipulationy of the mea-nsused forthe' originalmanual. operationt This circuit may be considered. as a control means,triggered into operation manually` but', after beingv so triggered,beyond any-further manual control..V

In accordanceI with thisfeature;` and I particula-rlyr wherethef time:Ameasuring, means, is:` employed to.- prevent thestarting of thefstartstop distributors'untila period' of time greater than that necessary forcertain conventional signals haselapsedi a-startwkey is provided; Thismay be manipulatedby an operator but must be. mainv tained. in.operation. untilthe distributors havebeen started.. Ifreleasedprior.toithat: instant the apparatus'will befreturnedto normalxwithout furthereffect.A HoweverVif-held-in operationffor. a-longerperiodl` the errorcircuit will.be triggered andthe controlk will be fremoved from-underany further. inuence of. the startkey:

Inone .respectthe start key.` will have continued control, for. by.r itsmanipulation, itprovides a` locking circuit for the.. error circuit andthere-- fore servesasa means tolock in the: triggered error. circuitywherebyI the continued or prolonged operation of the startvkey actuallyfserves-as a protection-againstL any ill eiects of such a prolongedoperation. Essentially, .,therefore, the secalled,v error circuitprovides means tor insure a complete and. properv operationI of. theselecting. means and prevent any mutilationofthe signals therein.Y Afeature-of. the invention maytherefore be stated asthe combinationof. astar/t key,1 a means for startinga deviceinpperati'onunder control of.said. key,. and. ameans .responsive fto.. a movement of saiddevice forlocking. saidstarting means under jointcontrol of said key andJ saidvdevice.

Inaccordancewith this feature meansare providedl to insureA theautomaticv and complete :restoration of the distributors atl allstationsas a-` preliminary to a selectingZ operation.. It ywillbe benoted that a selecting operation isstarted by. an opening, by the.star,tkeyof the series circuit extendingA throughY all? the` stations.whereby all. the line. relays are simultaneously released. and. whichtherefore all simultaneously close the local. circuits for operating.'the latch magnets. Each distributor starts its' operation and eachtherefore operates its oif normal contacts which results in theoperation ofv a triggerrel'aywhich' in turn opens the circuit of'4the-latch-magnet; This trigger relay then locks to theba'ck contactsofthe line relay'softhat' it isnow under the'joint controllof` the oir`normal. contactsland the line' relay and there'fore'cannotreleaseilandzeffectively establisha circuit-for thelatchmagnet. As each.distributor reaches itshomeepositionfit;islstopped byi its: latchf.and.. by vrtuezof having reachedfits.

6 home'rpositiomoperates1-itsso: normale contacts fto. a. position torelease thetriggerv4 relay: ThisV re-A lay, however; remains operated solongA as the line relay remainsreleased as' when the operator is slow inreleasing thestartfkey. Again theseries circuitf, cannot` be.Acompletely closed.r and therefore no line relay can beY energized; againuntil eachil and; everyV one'1 of, the distributors hasreachedits'homelposition'. Hence the error circuit provides ya means forinsuring synchronization `oi" the Isystem'.

Another feature offtheinvention isa'means to stop denitely'eachdistributor on thecompletiony of veach rotationand Vhold itilatchedlawaiting a succeeding. manualv start operation. In accordance'withthisfeature' the distributors cannotzbe. operated continuously by the merecontinuedoperation of the startr key but mustper.- forceend theiroperationat the end'of one completerotation and remainY latched .untilthe start circuit is released or reconditionedby a release oithestartfkey prior to.:anotheroperationthereof.

Another feature vofjthe invention is a-means forautomatically'releasing,the latch` of a distributor immediately that it'hasbeen operated to allow the distributor to start its movementso thatthe latch will be returned to itsf normal positionl andinreadinessto'stopthe distributor. at the end of a vcomplete'rotationthereof. The above kdescribed error circuit provides a lockinglmeans for the present lmeanswhereby further `operation of thedistributor latch is inhibited until all parts of' the device, includingthe; startkey; have been returned to-normal.

Still another feature of. the invention is a clutch'. of novel design;It is conventional in a start stop distributordeviceitohave a constantlyrotatingmotor associated throughiaclutch with a` distributor. The clutchis so devisedk that it willl slipas longas the latch holds thedistributor but will` grip and. turn" the distributor arm at full speedassoon as the'V latch isv disengaged. The: clutch of the; presentiinvention' is simple, rugged'and dependable and has no` parts bearingonk one another. frictionally. It consists essentiallyy of a. smoothsurfaced discv terminating a driven shaft, a smooth suriacedcupterminating adrivingshaftan'da mass of viscous iluid,r such' as asilicone within the saidcup and ink which thel said disc isimrnersed.This fluid will allow slippage of one element withv respect to the otherwith little drag on theimotor while the vdistributor remains latchedbutwill, provide. a hrm bond between driving andl driven. elements atvother times andy will movethe distributor arm at practically'full speedimmediately that the latch is released.

@ther` featuresL will appear hereinafter.

The drawings consistof six. sheets having nine igures, as follows:

Fig.' l. isa block diagram showing howv Figs; 2, 3,' a and 5 may beplaced-to form a complete schematic circuit diagram of asystem accordingt'o theV present invention;

Fig; 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram with the' apparatus used at atransmitting' station shownv schematically and partly in section;

Fig. 3l shows. a similar schematic circuit dia-- gram. for one oftheplurality of receiving stationsandhaving the apparatus thereat shown inskeleton form with theparts thereof placed in the same relativepositions as shown in Fig. 2;

Eig. 4 isla, similar-schematic circuit, diagram;

Fig. 5 is a similar circuit diagram showing, also i a block indicationof other stations which may be included in the circuit;

Fig. 6 is a side view, much enlarged, of the apparatus including thedistributor and the means by which it is operated;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top view showing details of the latch and the manner inwhich the distributor arm may be released and allowed to operate, and

Fig. 9 is a skeleton schematic circuit diagram showing an alternativecircuit arrangement which may be used at the various stations of thesystem, whereby the distributors may be started immediately withoutwaiting a specified time.

In each of Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 a source of sixty cycle alternatingcurrent is shown. These various sources may be one and the same or theymay be entirely independent sources depending on the location of thevarious stations. Each is shown as a source of 117 volt alternatingcurrent, thus indicating a commercial supply. It is not necessary thatthese voltages be exactly alike since by the use of suitabletransformers the supply for the diiTerent stations of the system may beregulated in well known manner. It is necessary, however, that thefrequency characteristics of these various sources be substantially orreasonably the same. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the source ofsupply l is connected through a fuse 2 and a switch 3 to a pair ofconductors leading through the `iack and plug device to the winding of asynchronous motor li so that this synchronous motor will be constantlyrotating. Also this source of supply is connected by a transformerthrough a rectier and a network consisting of an impedance element l anda condenser 8 to form a suitable supply of direct current for theoperation of the relays and other apparatus of the system. In each ofFigs. 2 to 5 inclusive there is shown a jack and plug arrangement havingthirty-two cooperating elements. This is a convenience since it rendersit possible and easy to take the device shown in Figs. 6, and 8 out ofcircuit for repair, adjustment or replacement. It will be understoodthat this jack and plug device is not necessary to proper functioning ofthe apparatus but is, as above stated, employed as a convenience.

At the top of Fig. 2 a battery S (which may also be derived from thecommercial source) is shown, which supplies current in a loop circuitwhich may be traced in detail through the jack and plug (23), the ringof the distributor it,

the brush Il thereof in its normal arrested position, the stop segmenti2, the plug and jack (2l) the start switch i3, the drive relay lli,conductor it, jack and plug (23) of the station number l shown in Fig.3, ring Il of the distributor thereat, brush iii, start segment i9, plugand jack (2i) drive relay 20, conductor 2i, jack and plug (23) ofstation number 2 shown in Fig. 4, ring 22 of the distributor thereat,brush 23, start segment 2t, plug and jack (2l), drive relay 25,conductor 26, jack and plug (23) of station number 3 shown in Fig. 5,ring 21 of the distributor thereat, brush 28, start segment 29, plug andjack (2l), drive relay 30, conductor 3|, thence through other stations32 and nally back over conductor 33 to the battery 9. Since this circuitis closed, all of the drive relays included therein, such as the DRrelay it, the DR relay 2t, the DR relay and the DR relay 38 will beenergized and therefore will maintain an open Contact at theirarmatures.

All of the synchronous motors at the various stations will be operatingand since the frequency characteristics of all the various sources ofalternating current are substantially the san e these motors will beoperating at the same speed. Looking at Fig. 2 it will be seen that theshaft of the motor has secured to it a magnetic piece 34 whichconstitutes a core for a relay whose coil 35 is cooperatively associatedtherewith. An armature for this relay consists of a magnetic disc 36which is supported by a coiled spring 3l in such a manner that it noatsa short distance above the core 34 but is not attached to the shaft 33of the motor. When the coil 35 is energized the armature 36 is attractedto the core 3st and, making frictional engagement therewith, begins arotary movement in the direction of rotation of the motor indicatedherein as clockwise. Attached to the armature 3E there is a contactpiece 39 which will approach and iinally make contact with anothercontact piece 0.

At its upper extremity a cup shaped piece'ti is attached to the shaft 38ofthe motor 4 and rotates constantly therewith. A disc d2 having nomechanical connection with this cup is shown as being placed therein andin accordance with this invention is immersed in a fluid t3. The shaftlill terminates in a latch i5 which is normally held stationary by theelement fit of a solenoid 41. Therefore the cup di constantly rotatesbut the disc i2 remains stationary.

The physical characteristics of the fluid d3 are such that the cup M mayconstantly rotate while the disc 42 remains stationary without an unduedrag on the motor.v This constitutesA a iluid clutch and when theelement 6 is withdrawn from the latch 45 the disc 2 will immediatelybegin to rotate with the cup 4I with practically no slippage between thetwo.

The fluid used in this clutch may vary over a wide range. One of themost suitable is one of those chemical compounds known as a silicone,the particular one being dimethylpolysiloxane, an organic compoundcomposed of long chains of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and silicon atomslinked repetitively in a diagram typical of complex organic compounds.'Ihis has a viscosit7 of 30,000 centistokes, a viscosity coeiiicient of.61, a freezing point of -44 C. and a boiling point of 200 C. It is ofparticular value in its present application because it maintains itsviscosity values over a wide range of temperatures for long periods oftime, exhibits true Newtonian flow characteristics, is relatively inertto materials used in the present device, has good lubricating qualitieswhen used in the present manner and is readily available commerciallynot only with the constants above stated but in a wide range ofviscosities.

The invention, however, is not limited to the use of this one uid butincludes the use of other fluids of similar physical characteristics,such as certain petroleum oils having suitable temperature-viscositycoe'icients.

There is a cam 48 attached to the shaft it so that as soon as the shaft4d leaves its normal position a connection will be made between the olinormal springs 4S and 50.

These arrangements may be seen in Figs. 6, 'a' and 8 substantially inthe form in which the device is manufactured. Here it will be seen thata base plate 5l forms an element to which the other parts are secured.The motor 52 isshown secured to the base plate 5! by means of the'.maracas stand off posts 53 and :54. The shaft 5.5 lof vthe motor isseen as extending upwardly,.particular ly in Fig. 7. The magnetic:piece'56 secured to the shaft ,55,forms, a constantly rotating core fora relay whose coil 5. isencasedin a magnetic shell 53. By means of apair of stand off posts S and 623 a circular insulating element v6| issupported. Around theperiphery of this circular piece there areaplurality of contact pieces, such as the contact pieces 62 andVrpictured in Fig. 6. The contact piece Eeiindicated inFig. 8 is thestop segment Aof the'distributor.

Attached to the shaft. .'iat itsupperendithere is an element E5 to Whichis attached a disc Gt. A circular cup like elementl's' of insulatingmaterial is placed over the element S5 and by means of an G-ring orelastic torus Satheconnection between the elements 55 and 67 is madefluid tight. A third or cap element 69 also. of insulating material issecured to the cup element l so as to forni a reservoir'therebetween inwhich a disc E5 may rotate. The element B9 has a narrow ring portion orbearing surface on the plate E6 to maintain a proper distance betweenthe upper surface of the elementtfand the plate BS. The space within thereservoir is'lled with a viscous fluid having physical characteristicswhich will allow the disc 65 to rotate constantly without placing anundue drag on the motor and yet which will impart the motion ofthe motorand the disc 'E5 to the reservoir device formed of the elements el and69 when the latch is released.

There is a ring of metal l secured to the underside of the element-tl onwhich a brush'll constantly bears so that-'an electricallconnection maybe made between the brushli andfthering 'it in all positions thereof. Atone point thev ring ill isextended and'bent Adownwardlyas at-72 and tothis a brush 'i3 is securedwhichwill bea-r on the faces of the varioussegments shown. In Fig. 8 the clutch magnet 'l-i is shown carrying atthe end of its armature a shearl which engages the portion 'l2 of thedistrib-utorbrush and holdsit against rotation. It will be notedthatwhen the magnet 'it is energized the shearl'will 'beA moved to the rightandout Vof engagement with'the brush portion i2 so'that at'thisl time'the 'iiuid clutch will become Vactivel and "cause the brush 73 to make acompleterevolution, `making-contact in turn with each of the segments ofthe distributor.

Attached to the insulating circular piece 6i there is a member i6 towhich a spiral spring ll is secured. The spring?? is attached at itsother end to a magnetic armature 18. The spring 'il is so formed that itwill hold thel magnetic part i8 in the position shown in Figs.6 and '7,that is, floating a short distance away from the constantly rotatingcore 56. There is attached to the armature 78 a contact piece 79 havinga bent up tab 80 restingagainst astop. 8l. When the coil 51 is energizedthe .magnetic piece 'i8 will be attracted downwardlyso that it comesinto frictional engagement with theconstantly rotating core 5tandrotates therewith until the contact piece 'i9 comes into engagementwith the stationary contact piece82. By means of an adjusting screwV 83the normal distance between the contact piece 19 at rest andthe contactpiece 82 may be adjusted so thatin practicey all of the various timedelay orslow operating. relays will make the connection betweenthepiecesxllfa-nd 82 simultaneously.

The top portion of the cap piece-69. isgenerally circular in :shape buthaving a segment cutoff as shown 1n Fig-8 so that tne off normal spring84 maybe operated shortly aiter the lbeginning of the movement or' thebrush 13.

Going bach now to the circuit diagram shown in Figs. 2 to b inclusivethe cperation of the device may loe-described as follows. Dlsregardingthe actual selecting operationsfi'or thepresent it may be noted thatwhen the iundamental circuit fed by the battery 9 is opened by means ofthe switch i3 that the DR relay i4 1s deenergized.

Thereupon a circuit will be established from battery leading from therectifier@ through vvthe armatureand back contact ofthe DRrelay I4, thearmature and back contact of theER relay $5, the solenoid ofthe-timedelay relay 35 to ground. ri-he. armature 3,6 will thus beattracted 'tothe constantly rotating corefs and thereontact piece 39 will move towardthe'contact piece t. When Contact between these; pieces is made acircuit isestablished from; battery through Athe winding of the releasesolenoid i4?, `thespiral spring 3l, the contact piece 39,thecon'tactpiee lill to ground, whereupon the latchll Ais released andthe brush il under the inuence ofthe `fluid drive clutch begins to moveover its segments.

The system shown in Figs. 2 to r5 inclusiveland employing the time delayrelay is useful in a system where theloop circuit is also employedforthe transmission of other signals such as printing telegraph signals.rIhe time delay relay would respond to such signalsbut wouldrestoreafter each so that even a train -of such signals would fail to start thedistributor. -In this system the start switch must be heldopenffor ,aperiod of time long enough to cause thetirne delay switch orsiowoperating relay to close effectively its contacts.

If the start switch I3 has been Vmaintained open and therefore the DRrelay lll has remained deenergized. until this circuit forthevsolenoidAl is made, the latchl Willbe released as described. Almostimmediately the off normal contacts-.69 and 56 are made so that acircuit is established from battery, the contactll, the contactfli9theER relayS toground. This relay; isnow held energized .in two circuits,one from v*battery through the armature andback contactofzthe DR relayHl, the armature and frontcontact of the ER relay 85, lthe windingthereofrto ground, and the other 'from battery through the oil` normalcontacts .5t and .49, the winding Lofthe ER relaytohground, sothat` thisER relay will remain energized at least until the brushllghas completeda cycle to the point where. it has been stopped by the clutch element46. If duringits cycle-the start switch i3 has been released so thatwhen the brush ilagain reachesits ,start Contact I2 the DR relayi willbe energized, and the ER relay '85 will be released from its lockingcircuit. If the start switch, [3 has, not yet been released then the 'ERrelay ,'85 will remain locked up even,thoughthebrush I lyhas completed acycleof its segments and .bee-,n latched into its normal position.AItgwill alsorbe noted that upon the rst operation of the @ER relay 85thecircuit for the solenoid'35. ofthefloyv operating relay is opened sothatthe. armature 36 thereof is released from frictional contact.-withthe rotating core Sliv and under the iniiuenceof the spiral springl willreturn to its normal portion, thus opening the circuit ofthereleasesolenoid .41. lIt will thus be seen that' fimrnediately afterthecontact has come into engagement with `the contactfthat thereleaseysolenoide ll will be opened andthe circuit completed by the slowoperating relay 35 will be opened.

It will be understood that the arrangements at all the other stationsincluded in the loop circuit are exactly the same. Therefore, when thestart key I3 is operated-.all of the drive relays ill, 2t, 25 and 30Will be simultaneously operated, the slow operating relays at each ofthese stations will begin to operate and they will simultaneously closetheir contacts so as to start simultaneously the brushes II, I8, 23 and28. Thus the distributors will operate simultaneously and each of thebrushes will make contact with corresponding segments simultaneously. Inthe drawings, Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, segments 2i) and 2l are connectedtogether and constitute stop circuit segments. Segments 22 and I arealso connected together and in turn connect to the conductor It so thatas the brushes II, I8, 23 and 2B come into contact with their segments22 a derived path release circuit will be established from the battery,the ring I8 of the distributor, the segment 22, the conductor I6 throughsimilar circuits at the other stations each including a clear out relaysuch as the CO relay 86 at station number 1, the CO relay 87 at stationnumber 2 and the CO relay 88 at the station number 3. These clear outrelays have their armatures connected to ground to which the variousfunction relays are locked. Assuming, by Way of example, that thefunction relay 89 has been operated and locked in a circuit frombattery, its armature and front Contact, its winding, the back contactand armature of the CO relay 86 to ground, then it will be seen that bythe operation of the CO relay 85 the function relay 89 may be released.Thus, as the distributors at the various stations are started the firstaction taken is to release any and all relays which have been lockedinto position by some previous operation of the receiving station.

Each station has thereat one r more function relays such as the functionrelay 89. This relay may be energized as at station 1 when thedistributor I8 comes to its segments 2 and 3 providing the switch 9i] atthe transmitting or master station has been operated. Therefore, as alldistributor brushes reach their number 2 segment a derived circuit willbe established including the operated all call selecting push button 90,the FTR relay 9I at station number l, the

FTR relay 92 at station number 2, the FTR relay 93 at station number 3and similar circuits at the other stations indicated by the box 32. Uponthe operation of the FTR relay QI a circuit is established from battery,the armature and front contact of the FTR relay 9I, the winding of theFR relay 89, the back contact and armature of the CO relay 85 to ground.The FR relay responds and locks in a circuit from battery, its armatureand front contact and its Winding to ground over the circuit justtraced. The FR relay will therefore remain locked until it is releasedby the transmission of another selecting signal. In this derivedcircuit, including the segments 2 and 3 of each of the distributors, allof the stations are called in. As another example, if the push buttonsi! has been operated then no one of the FIR relays el, 92 or 93 wouldhave been operated, but instead the FTR relay 95 at station number lwould be operated when the brush I8 reached its segment 4. At stationnumber 2 the segment number 4 is connected to the LTR relay 99 and atstation number the segment number 4 is connected to the LTR relay 91 sothat at station number l a function relay Will be operated whereas atall the other stations the LTR relays will be operated. At stationnumber 1 then theFR relay 92 will respond while at station number 2 theLR relay 99 and at station number 3 the LR relay Iill will respond.These relays will lock in the manner described.

The function relays may be used for any desired purpose. As shownherein, merely by Way of example, the function relay S8 will close acircuit for a bell IllI which may be traced from one side of thecommercial source of alternating current through the bell I @I the frontcontact and armature of the FR relay 98, the back contact and armatureof the LR relay H32 to the other side of the commercial source ofsupply.

t the same time a, connection will be made in parallel with the bell IUI for the green signal lamp ISS to indicate that at this station aselection has been made. At each of the other stations Where the LRrelays are operated a connection will be made through the red signallamp Iilll at station number 2 and H95 at station number 3 thencethrough the front contacts and armatures of the respective LR relays tothe source of supply. Thus at one station the green lamp |23 will beactive while at all the other stations the red lamp will be active.

If, on the other hand, the push button IGS had been operated then the FRrelay Il at station number 2 would have been operated when the variousdistributors reached the number 6 segments.

It should be noted that each of the function relays, such as the FRrelay 89 at station number 1, the FR relay Iil at station number 2 andthe FR relay |08 at station number 3 Will control motors, such as themotor |09 at station number 1, the motor I I@ at station number 2 andthe motor IH at the station number S. These are indications that themotors of printing telegraph apparatus may be started so that as aresult of this selection such printing telegraph apparatus may beenabled.

Throughout the drawings Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, two segments have beenconnected together to form substantially a single segment for thepurpose of making selections. This arrangement may be used in a systemwherein there are only a small number of stations for the purpose ofgiving Wide latitude in the operation of the devices. It should bedistinctly understood, however, that this is not necessary and that eachsegment may be used for a separate derived circuit.

The switching arrangement shown in Fig. 2 may be such that the variouspush buttons are mechanically interlocked. By a conventional arrangementof this kind whenever any one of the push buttons, such as Si), isoperated it will mechanically release any other button which has beenoperated previously. Each of the function buttons, such as the button 99and those shown below, are arranged so that when pushed they will remainoperated thereafter. Another button, shown at the top and numbered II2,is known as a selector release switch. This button when pushed willmechanically release any other of the selecting buttons but will notitself remain operated. However, it will perform the same function asthe selector start switch I3 thus opening the circuit and starting thedevices as hereinbefore described. Y

Fig. 9 is a thumb nail sketch of an alternate circuit arrangement inwhich no time delay is @acm-us employed. The system may-be: constructedwith this circuit leaving out entirely the slowacting relay Where thesystem will not'beemployed to transmit any other than the-.selectingsignals, Thus, in Fig. 9 the fundamental circuit is shown as a conductor|ji3fp-assing through'a starte-key Hd and a DR relay H5. As in the maincircuit diagram the DR relay H5 is constantly operated until the circuitis opened by means of the start key H13. At this time a circuit Willthenbe closed from battery, the armature and back Ycontact of the DR relayH5, thevarmature and back contact of the ER relayHS through the latchmagnet or release solenoidH-'l to ground. Under this condition thedistributor will be started immediately, whereupon theoi'normal contactsH3 will close and cause'the-operation of the ER relay H5. This relaywill then lock in a circuit from battery, theY armature and back contactof the DR relay `l l5, the armature'and front contact of the ER relay II6 and willremain in this condition until both thevoff normal contactsH9 are opened and the DR relay H5 is again operated.

What is claimed is:

l. In a signaling system, 4a ring circuit including a conductor closedin a complete loopt through a plurality of stations serially includedtherein, each of said stations having distributor means serially-included in said circuit for sequentially `establishing 'a .pluralityof dierent derived circuits, means for starting all of said distributormeans simultaneously, circuits rthrough said distributor means to closesaid ring circuit in each segmental position thereof, function relaysincluded in dii-ferent ones of said derived circuits at different onesof said stations and a signal relay or" characteristics like saidfunction relays included in all others of said derived circuits at eachof said stations provided with said function relays.

2. In a signaling system, a ring circuit including a conductor closedina complete loop through a plurality of stations serially includedtherein, each of said stations having distributor means seriallyincluded in said circuit for sequentially establishing a plurality ofdifferent derived circuits, means for starting all of said distributormeans simultaneously, circuits through said distributor means to closesaid ring circuit in each segmental position thereof and function relaysincluded in different ones of said derived circuits at dierent ones ofsaid stations, one of said stations including said starting means havingmanually operable selecting means for rendering one or more of saidderived circuits effective.

3. In a signaling system, a plurality of stations serially connected ina closed loop, each said station having a distributor means included insaid series circuit, a constantly operating synchronous motor foroperating each of said distributors, said motors all operating fromsupplies of alternating current having a common frequencycharacteristic, latch means for stopping said distributors, said latchmeans when energized freeing said distributors to start the operationthereof, a time measuring means operated by each of said motors,contacts operated by said time measuring means for energizing said latchmeans at the end of a predetermined period, and means for simultaneouslyenabling said time measuring means.

4. In a signaling system, a ring circuit including a conductor closed ina complete loop through a f piurauty of-fseations; seriallyamendes-:therein eachv of said stations fhaving distributor :meansserially included in said circuit for sequentially establishing a fplurality of diierent derived circuits, means at. one ofv said stationsforfselectively closing saidv derived circuits, f' means forl startingall of said distributor meanssimultaneously, .circuits through saiddistributormeans toclose -said ring circuitexcepting at said ione'of:said stations in each and every segmental positionzthereof andfunctionrelays. included in Ydiierentones of said derived circuitsatdifferentronesofv said stations.

5. In a signalingsystem, a ring circuit including` a conductor closed.in. a. completeN loopl through a plurality of vstationsvseriallyrncluded therein, each of said stations having :distributormeans serially included in said circuit for sequentially establishing aplurality of different derived circuits, means at one of said stations.forselectively closing saidfderived circuits, Asaid means comprising aplurality .of mechanically interlocked push buttons, means.for-.starting vall of said rdistributor means simultaneously, circuitsthrough said distributor means-toclcse saidring circuit excepting at`saidone .of saidfstatio-nsin each and every segmental.positiont'thereofand function relays included.. in, different ones of said derivedcircuitsr at different .onesofisaid' stations.

6. In a signaling system,..'a'ring.circuit including a conductorclosedin acompleter loop through a .plurality of stations. serially:included ltherein, each of said stations having distributor meansserially included inxsaidcircuit.for-.sequentially establishing aplurality .of different derivedcircuits, means for startingfallof`said-distributor means simultaneously,circuitsyvthrough saiddistributormeans to close said ring .circuitl in each segmental position thereof,`ffunction relays'ineluded in different ones voffsaid:derived-circuitsat dinerent ones ofsaidstationaa. locking circuit for said relays,andasynchronousalternating current motor Vfor operating .eachof saiddistributors.

7. In a signaling system, a ring circuit including a conductor closed ina complete loop through a plurality of stations serially includedtherein, each of said stations having distributor means seriallyincluded in said circuit for sequentially establishing a plurality ofdifferent derived circuits, means for starting all of said distributormeans simultaneously, circuits through said distributor means to closesaid ring cuit in each segmental position thereof, function relaysincluded in diierent ones of said derived circuits at different ones ofsaid stations, a locking circuit for said relays, one of said functionrelays having means to open said locking circuit, and a synchronousalternating current motor for operating each of said distributors.

8. In a signaling system, a ring circuit including a conductor closed ina complete loop through a plurality of stations serially includedtherein, each of said stations having distributor means seriallyincluded in said circuit for sequentially establishing a plurality ofdifferent derived circuits, means for starting all of said distributormeans simultaneously, circuits through said distributor means to closesaid ring circuit in each segmental position thereof, function relaysincluded in different ones of said derived circuits at diierent ones ofsaid stations, a locking circuit for said relays, the first of saidfunction relays encountered having means to open said locking circuitand being itself outside the control thereof, and a synchronousalternating current motor for operating each of said distributors. l

9. In a signaling system, a plurality of stations serially connected ina closed loop, each said station having the brush and segments of adistributor included in said series circuit, whereby said closed loopmay be periodically severed into a plurality of sections betweenstations and periodically closed into a complete loop through differentcircuits connected to the said different segments of said distributors,a constantly operating alternating current distributor operating motordepending for its speed of operation on the frequency, independent ofthe phase of an alternating current supply and alternating current mainslocal to each said station for driving said distributor motors, saiddifferent supply mains all having only substantially identical frequencycharacteristics.

l0. In a signaling system, a ring circuit including a conductor closedin a complete loop through a plurality of stations including at leastone master station and a plurality of substations serially includedtherein, each of said stations having distributor means seriallyincluded in said circuit for sequentially establishing a plurality ofdifferent derived circuits, means for starting all of said distributormeans simultaneously comprising a means at a master station for openingsaid loop, a relay in series with said loop at each of said stations,said loop opening means and said relays being connected in local partsof said loop at each of said stations under control of said distributorswhereby said starting means are rendered ineffective as saiddistributors move into other segmental positions thereof, local circuitsat each said substations for each segmental position of the distributorthereof for closing said ring circuit, function relays included indifferent ones of said local circuits in different ones of said stationsand means at said master station for selectively closing said derivedcircuits.

l1. In a signaling system, a ring circuit including a conductor closedin a complete loop through a plurality of stations including at leastone master station and a plurality of substations serially includedtherein, each of said stations having distributor means seriallyincluded in said circuit for sequentially establishing a plurality ofdifferent derived circuits, means for starting all of said distributormeans simultaneously comprising a means at a master station for openingsaid loop, a relay in series with said loop at each of said stations,said loop opening means and said relays being connected in local partsof said loop at each of said stations under control of said distributorswhereby said starting means are rendered ineffective as saiddistributors move into other segmental positions thereof, local circuitsat each said substaticns for each segmental position of the distributorthereof for closing said ring circuit, specific function relays includedin different ones of said local circuits in different ones of saidstations and general function relays included in the remainder of saidlocal circuits in each of said different stations, function lockingmeans for recording at each said substation the identity of theparticular one of said function relays operated thereat and means atsaid master station for selectively closing said derived circuits.

Rcferences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,682,106 Zogbaum June 14, 1927 1,645,563 Whistlecroft Oct.18, 1927 1,689,294 Potts Oct. 30, 1929 1,703,152 Kleinschmidt Feb. 26,1929 1,737,037 White Nov. 26, 1929 2,226,692 Brunner Dec. 3l, 19402,424,571 Lang July 29, 1947 2,522,003 Walker Sept. 12, 1950 2549,028Spencer et al Apr. 17, 1951 2,567,226 McWhirter et al. Sept. 11, 1951

